Recent Posts

We’ve all been there… an AMAZING volunteer walks through the front door offering their support. Maybe they’re a professional videographer, or they have a PhD in your issue area, or they’re a marketing expert. So naturally they spend the next day licking envelopes – and then they stop answering your calls, never to return.

Managing volunteers is hard, especially when our organizations only offer a limited number of roles for high-skill volunteers. Vantage Point’s Knowledge Philanthropy approach opens the door to project-based contributions from subject matter experts who guide the work.

Some roles are more defined, with a standard repeatable workflow. The last thing we want to do is create new roles on the fly because that never results in a strategic outcome. So join me in drawing some diagrams!

For our very first panel podcast we are joined by: Veronika Bylicki, Co-Founder and Co-Director of CityHive; Vincent Gonsalves Manager, Communications and Engagement of Mobility Pricing; and Brad Roberts, Director of HR at MPA Society, to share their expertise on engagement strategies for the next generation of not-for-profit leaders.

Through a four part blog series with Vantage Point, Keela will be providing insights on how and when to find technology that will have lasting positive impact on your organization. Stay tuned for a new blog on this topic every few months as Philip from Keela provides key insights to make strong decisions on technology for your organization.

BC Employer Health Tax to include exemptions for Charities and Not-for-Profit Organizations with payroll under $1.5 million. In a notice posted the first week of July 2018, the BC government announced their intention to allow a complete exemption from the Employer Health Tax (EHT) for both not-for-profit organizations and charities with a payroll below $1.5 million.

Legislation for the new tax will be put forward in the fall of 2018, and the tax will come into effect January 1, 2019. While the exemption does not apply to all organizations, it includes a majority of the 26,000 not-for-profits and charities in the province from paying the introduced EHT.

Charities and other not-for-profit organizations are often created to address society’s most persistent challenges (e.g. homelessness, hunger, poverty) – those that neither governments nor for-profits have historically been able to solve.

According to the latest research, changing demographics and an aging population, is significantly increasing demand for charitable services while available funding is set to decreasei. Therefore, it is a critically important time to build the capacity of not-for-profit organizations.

Gordon Holley, President and CEO of Humanity Financial Management, brings his expertise as a CPA, CA, and Certified Professional Bookkeeper Fellow to this month’s podcast. He provides clarity on how to distinguish between financial governance, financial management, and financial reporting – and why it’s important to see the differences. Come away from this podcast with a foundational understanding of each topic, and ideas on how to strengthen each area in your organization!

In celebration of National Indigenous History Month, Vantage Point reached out to a governance expert for her thoughts about not-for-profits and Indigenous governance. Kinwa works as a consultant to organizations and leaders in the areas of strategic planning, organizational development, fundraising, and project management. She is also a legal researcher, policy advisor, human resource consultant, and contract manager. Kinwa is a doctoral student at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law. It is an honour to have her share her thoughts with us.

Charities and other not-for-profit organizations are often created to address society’s most persistent challenges (e.g. homelessness, hunger, poverty) – those that neither governments nor for-profits have historically been able to solve.

According to the latest research, changing demographics and an aging population, is significantly increasing demand for charitable services while available funding is set to decreasei. Therefore, it is a critically important time to build the capacity of not-for-profit organizations.

As a non-Indigenous organization, Vantage Point has continued to explore appropriate ways to engage with Reconciliation efforts. Kevin Barlow, CEO of the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council (MVAEC), joins us for this month’s podcast to discuss the topic of Urban Indigenous Engagement.

Alison Brewin has joined us as the next Executive Director of Vantage Point. To get to know Alison a bit better - we have compiled a series of questions to learn everything from her favorite books to her life motto.

Welcome to Alison, we are glad to have you on Vantage Point team!

How would you describe your leadership approach/philosophy?

Leadership is about giving hope – hope that we can succeed, hope that complex problems can be solved, hope that the world is a grand place where most people want to do the right thing. It is also about following through on promises made. I am an empathetic...